It shouldn’t have come to this

Vancouver councillors have voted to ban plastic straws, foam cups, and other foam containers on June 1, 2019. There are mixed feelings from the public. Personally, this is something that I am excited to see happening as I am trying to live a zero waste, plastic-free lifestyle. However, I can’t help but think “Why did it come to this?” We, as a culture, are so obsessed with convenience and low-cost substitutions that we have failed to see the mess we are making of the planet until it’s nearly too late.

We need to do a lot more than just ban plastic. The public needs to rewire their brains to think differently when grocery shopping or going for take-out. Individuals and businesses should be making more sustainable choices not because they are forced to, but because it’s something that is important for the well-being of future generations. Reducing waste is so much more than just plastic straws and to-go cups.